Well, well, well, we are back to Winnipeg with some fresh NHL Rumours hot off the press. If you have been following along, our rumours have been coming fast and furious lately. And now we have an all-star combination. One of the biggest free agents is teaming up with one of the biggest rumour breakers in this edition, so let’s check it out.

Hearing Nikolaj Ehlers has informed the Jets he will go to free agency on July 1

Door not closed on Manitoba, but will test the market

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 26, 2025

NHL Rumours: The Winnipeg Jets Sniper Will Test the Waters of Free Agency this Summer

Rumour: Elliotte Friedman, of Hockey Night In Canada fame, is saying that indeed the Winnipeg Jets sniper, Nikolaj Ehlers will test free agency, in well, just a couple days actually.

He also added that no, he isn’t opposed to re-signing in the Manitoba capital. However, he wants to see what is out there.

Analysis: Ehlers is definitely in the top ten (probably top five) of available forward unrestricted free agents. It makes sense he wants to bank on himself, and test what he can attract for offers.

There has been a lot of chatter from other teams. Teams that would obviously have interest in one of the biggest free agents to hit the market this summer. However, today’s rumour is more focused on Ehlers’ camp and the Winnipeg Jets perspective.

Among available free agents forwards, after Mitch Marner, Ehlers is probably as coveted as there is in terms of teams willing to pay a premier to get his services. Brock Boeser is obviously up there, as his Andrew Mangiapane, but someone like Brad Marchand, who’s 37, wouldn’t really be in the same playing field. Ehlers is looking for term, and a solid dollar amount to boot.

As for the logic behind these NHL Rumours, Ehlers has long been a subject of them. Under previous Jets head coach Rick Bowness, he didn’t always see eye-to-eye. Furthermore, he wasn’t given much power play opportunity, for as good as he is, or total ice time for that matter either. Now, under his successor, Scott Arniel, that tone has changed somewhat. He does get more power play chances. Even though his ice time was still lower in 2024-25, he was closer to a point-per-game player than he had been in previous seasons.

Just How Good Is Ehlers?

Scoring 24 goals and adding 39 assists for 63 points in just 69 games at 15:48 of ice time in 2024-25, shows how incredibly efficient offensively Ehlers can be when he is producing. That is why it kind of makes sense he wants out of Winnipeg. He wants to play somewhere where he can get more ice time, play on a top line, you get the deal. In contrast, he is still willing to consider Winnipeg. Perhaps a reason for that is Arniel and his confidence in Ehlers. Also, his production was so good the past season. It would be tempting to try to repeat that same success on the same club he has been with his whole NHL career.

One more aspect complicating these NHL Rumours from the Jets perspective is Gabriel Vilardi. It does seem Winnipeg wants to keep him around, as we discussed recently. The positive thing for a possible Ehlers-Jets reunion in 2025-26, is the club’s salary cap management. Still having almost $24.5 million in cap space, shows they are responsible. They were trying their best to be prepared to sign both point producers ideally. Will the past between the Jets and Ehlers make him consider going elsewhere, or are things just too good in Winnipeg, and he stays around. It will soon be time to find out.

Main Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images